Monday, Sept. 16, was highlighted as the first 10 years of Michigan’s student safety program OK2SAY by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and Director of the Michigan State Police Col. James Grady II.

The program allows students, parents, school staff and educators to report acts and behaviors that include internal harm such as suicide attempts and drug use as well as external threats such as bullying or planned attacks such as shootings on an educational facility all while maintaining their anonymity. The program is accessible for all schools in Michigan regardless of whether they are public, private or charter schools.

This highlighting of the program is following an announcement by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proclaiming Sept. 15 to 21 as OK2SAY Student Safety Program Week in Michigan. Since the inception of the program in 2014 the program has received over 56,000 reports all over the state which has assisted in preventing violent and other harmful acts befalling students.

The OK2SAY Program Administrator Mary Drew has said that the intention of the program is to prevent tomorrow’s tragedy today.

“We’re able to address situations and intervene before they (students) harm themselves or others,” she said.

The top category in which the service is utilized is for suicidal tendencies, attempts or behaviors. A member of the school body can access the program through a multitude of means whether it is via phone call, text, email, official website or web applications. Community Service Trooper Alan Narhi of the Calumet MSP Post is very supportive of the accessibility of the program.

“In today’s day and age that covers every method of reporting,” he said. “In the technological age that means a lot especially.”

Narhi believes that the program has been helpful in addressing situations before they become something of grave consequence much like Drew.

“Early intervention is key when trying to get somebody help,” Narhi said. “It doesn’t have to be an external threat, there are internal threats as well.”

Narhi said that while he is grateful for the program’s existence allowing those with concerns to speak up when they feel there is nowhere to turn, he feels there is still a hurdle that needs to be addressed.

“The biggest thing is convincing students that it’s ok to say something,” he said. “They’ll remain anonymous and they need to understand that.”

Narhi belives that this program can help assure safety in educational settings and that the assurance of safety is vital for children’s development.

“If we can’t have them (students) feel safe, then that affects their ability to learn and socialize with one another,” he said.

While some students, teachers or parents can sometimes be unsure of whether there is something to report regarding behavior suggesting harmful actions, Drew says it is better to reach out to the program than remain silent. She has shared that investigations have occurred in which there was a misunderstanding or that there was a false alarm. Drew however emphasizes that it is better to have an investigation reveal there is nothing to be weary of rather than real life danger commence to oneself or others.

The program will give presentations at educational institutions that request a show for the students, and the resources that are available will be showcased to the school. The presentations are made to be age appropriate and are made in person or online. The things that are taught to students in these presentations do not only go over what tools the program offers, but also effective responses to unsavory yet not dangerous behavior from classmates and cyberbullies and the dangers of internet predators.

If a student, teacher or parent has concerns regarding the safety of a child in an educational setting, he or she can contact OK2SAY in a variety of ways. The phone number for the program is 855-565-2729, the text number is 652729, the email is OK2SAY@mi.gov, and the official website and its apps can be sought online. Once contacted, the trained technicians of OK2SAY will analyze and distribute the information to school officials, community mental health service programs and law enforcement while keeping the contact’s identity private.